Two councillors are axed by commission

Council HQ

Published:12:38Monday 17 October 2016

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There will be two less councillors in East Dunbartonshire following next year’s local authority elections due to ward changes.

New electoral arrangements for the East Dunbartonshire Council area have been approved by Scottish Ministers, following a Scotland wide review of local government electoral arrangements by the Local Government Boundary Commission.

For East Dunbartonshire there is a reduction in the number of local wards from eight to seven and an overall reduction in the number of councillors from 24 members to 22 members.

The Lenzie & Kirkintilloch South, Bishopbriggs South, Milngavie, Bearsden North, and Bearsden South wards will all remain the same - with three councillors each.

But the remaining three wards will become two; Bishopbriggs North, Campsie & Torrance with four councillors and Kirkintilloch, East & North & Twechar with three.

Council leader Rhondda Geekie said she was disappointed at the reduction in the number of councillors locally and at the new ward boundaries.

She said: “At the consultation stage we opposed the reduction in local representation in East Dunbartonshire and the changes to our wards, but our objections have not been taken on board.

There is no further opportunity to appeal and if we reject the recommendations we would have to seek a Judicial Review, with no indication that this would lead to any change.

“No other councils have indicated they will challenge Ministers through Judicial Review, so reluctantly we have unanimously agreed that we will have to accept the new, reduced representation in this area.”

Changes were recommended for 30 of Scotland’s local authority areas by the Boundary Comission and the Scottish Government has accepted all but five, meaning changes will be made in 25 council areas - including East Dunbartonshire.

Parliamentary Business Minister Joe FitzPatrick said: “Local government plays an important role in delivering key services across Scotland and it’s important for the sake of democracy and for local service delivery that councils are as representative as possible of the communities they serve.”

“Our decisions will ensure updated electoral arrangements will apply for the local government elections in May next year, and I am confident these new structures will serve Scottish local government well in the years to come.”